Billet feeding and heating apparatus



July 25, 1933.

' D. suMMEY BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1928 11 Sheets-,Sheet 1 MM ww IS ATTORNEYS.

July 25, 1933. D. L. SUMMEY 1,920,133

BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1 28 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 5- C Mn 7 945 66 l o 0 6 d e (2 ea 0 8f 0 0 Q I o 4 a 8 a O O o Q ll llll 111$ATTORNY$- July 25, 1933.

D. L. SUMMEY BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS ori inal Filed Feb. 20, I928 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 25, 1933. SUMMEY 1,920,133

BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20. 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 HIS A RNEYS- D. 1.. SUMMEY July 25, 1933.

Original Filed Feb. 20

ll Sheets-Sheet 5 wk N NR WM Qw kw he K MN QM July 25, 1933. SUMMEY 1,920,133

BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1928 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 y 1933. D. L. SUMMEY BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENJDR B 4% 7' a HIS TTORNEYS.

July 25, 1933. D L S MMEY 1,920,133

BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Fileii Feb. 20, 1928 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 JMW 24mm? ATTORNEYS.

July 25, 1933. D. L.. SUMMEY BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1928 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTORNEYS.

July 25, 1933. D, L SUMMEY I 1,920,133

BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. I 20, 1928 11 sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR BY) 1 I f g gg \NQ HIS ATTORNEYS.

July 25,1933.

D. L. SUMMEY BILLET FEEDING AND HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet l l HIS ATTORNEYS.

i that the supply, heating and delivery Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID L. SUMMEY, OF WATERIBUBY, CONNECTICUT; THE COLONIAL TRUST COMPANY AND RICHARD IE. WEEKS SUMMEY EXEGUTORS OF SAID DAVID L. SUMMIT-Y, DE-

CEASED IBILLETFEEDIN G HEATING APPARATUS Original application filed February 20, 1928, Serial No. 255,644. Divided and this application filed July 25, 1929, seriaiuo. 380,805.

frial No. 255,644, now Patent No. 1,768,866.

It is an object of the invention to provide I a billet feeding and heating apparatus sucl;

o successive billets is carried on automatically and in an economical manner.

With this general object in view, the inventioii consists in the features, combinations, details of construction and arrangement of parts which will first be described in connection with the accompanying'drawings and then more particularly pointed out.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the charging end ofan apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 2- -2, 3-3 and H, respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 a .viewin end elevation with parts in section of the charging end of the furnace;

Figure 6 is a sectional vie'wtaken on the 1 line 6'6 of Figure-1;

' Figure 7 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of the discharge end of the furnace;

Figure 8 is-a sectional view taken on the line 8-.-8 of Figure 7-;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 7 Figure 10 is a sectional line 10'10- of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a view in end elevation (enlarged) of the discharge end of the furnace; Figure 12 is a view in elevation with parts in section of a portion of the apparatus at the discharge endof the furnace;

Figure 13 is a plan view, with parts in section, of billet transfer mechanism;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 1515 of Figure 14; V a

Figure 16 is an explanatory view of a view taken on Renewed March 16', 1932.

type of air control valve adapted for use with the apparatus;

Figures 17-19 are wiring diagrams. While many features of the invention are capable of a wide range of uses, the drawings illustrate, by way of example, an apparatus for feeding and heating billets, and

automatic means for causing operation of' the various'partsin apredetermined cycle. In this exemplification, the various movements are effected by fluid pressure power units, and these. power units are so controlled that the apparatus functions automatically, each step being dependent on the successful completion of one or more preceding steps, from the placing of a cold billet in a magazine to the dehvery of a hot billet.

For convenience, the mechanical features of the apparatus will be first described apart from the automatic. controls.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided means for heating billets and this may conveniently bean electric furnace capable of such heat control as to make possible uniform heating of successive billets. In the present embodiment the furnace is illustrated more or less conventionally and comprises a housing 7, enclosing a furnace chamber 7a. This chamber may be heated in any suitable manner, for example, by electric resistors such as are described in applicants copending application filed June '5, 1926, Serial No. 113,852. On Fig. 8 are indicated resistor coils 7b and additional coils 7c are indicated in Fig. 9. The temperature may be controlled in any suitable manner. Extending lengthwise of this furnace are a plurality of billet paths, in thisinstance four, formed by troughs 29 (Figs. 7-9) of a suitable material, for example,

nickel chromium alloy. The billets 1 here provided for are short lengths of cylindrical stock and the troughs 29 are arranged to receive and guide the billets in sidewise movement. That is, the billets lie transversely in their passage through the fur-- nace. At the entrance end,- the furnacehas a plurality of inwardly swinging self-closing hinged doors 31' (Figs. .2 and 5 one door being provided for each path.

There is provided means for feeding billets to. the furnace paths in predetermined order, for example, to theseveral paths inrotation. This may be accomplished by individual infeed pushers for the various paths and means for positioning the billets for these pushers. Although capable of various constructions,:in that here shown as an example, in -line with the four billet troughs 29 are four infeed pushers'42, 43, 44

and 45 (Figures 1 and 2).\ These pushers are formed asparts of piston rods of fluid pressure units 39, 40, 41,46 (Figuresl and 2).

These fluid pressure units, as well as others herein referred to, comprise cylinders and pistons of suitable construction and are .connected in the pressure line in any suitable manner. That end of the cylinder opposite the larger piston area is connected through suitable valve means by which that I so the i Throughout this description 0 end-of the cylinder may be putunder either pressure or exhaust. This may be termed the variable pressure end of the cylinder.

The other end, having the smaller piston area, has a direct connection with the pressure line and may be termed the constant return pressure end. Owing tothe piston differential, when the variable pressure end of the cylinder is connected in the pressure ,line the piston is advanced against the inefl'ectiveconstant pressure. When the variable pressure end is connected with exhaust the constantpressure becomes effective and returned.v

piston is 5 automaticallfy the furnace the fluid pressure units referred to are of this type unless otherwise noted. In this exemplification, are air-operated.

an infeed pusher advances under pressure it pushes the waiting billet, positioned as later described, through the swinging door into the corresponding furnace path.

By the force-of this advance stroke acting on the new billet all the preceding billets in that path are pushed ahead one step. ,As

summg the path to be full, this discharges the leadingbillet as'hereinafter described.

As the infeed pusher withdraws, the door swings shut to close the entrance.

While the/billet positioning means may vary, it may include a delivery pusher working past the furnace doors and selective stop means for automatically determining which furnace ,path is to, receive a billet. Al-

though capable of yarious constructions,,in :the present embodiment, extending across the entrance end of the furnace is'a delivery groove 6 (Figs.' -'1an' d 2) arranged to receive the billets endwise. Paralleling this transverse roove is a delivery push rod, 9 (Figs. 5, This push rod has a rack 11 the cylinders of the furnace meshing with a gear 13 mounted on'a shaft,

15. Motion is imparted to this shaft by means of a pinion 19 mounted on the shaft andmeshing with a-vertical rack 17. This rack is formed as part of a piston rod 21 having, at one end, a piston 23 working in a fluid pressure cylinder 25 and, at its other end, a piston 24 working in a fluid pressure cylinder 26; These two cylinders and pistons form, in-eflect, the, usual fluid pres sure .umt. That 1s, cylinder 25, which is .the largerm cross section, is connected, at

its upper end, either with the pressure line or exhaust. Cylinder 26 is direct-connected, I

When cylinder 25 is under. pressure, rod 21 at its lower end, withthe pressure line.

is forced downwardly due to the differential between the piston areas. This down stroke of rod 21 causes push rod 9 to advance along ample, below groove 6, and in front of the far side of the first three doors, are steps 33, ,34, 35 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) vertically slidable in the floor of the groove. When one of these stops is elevated it projects upwards ly into the 'groove and so into the path of the billet being delivered along the groove.

As shown, these stops are mounted ondupli- .cate piston rods 37 working in the cylinders of fluid pressure units 38. When" one of these stops is' advanced it determines the stroke of pushrod 9and' positions thedelivered billetrin front of the corresponding door and in line with the correspondmg' .infeed pusher. For the fourth door, that is, the last one counting" from the delivery iusher, a permanent stop 36 is provided. Vhen all the movable stops are retracted the delivery pusher makes a full stroke and positioned in front of the the billet is door. The automatic control of these stops 1s hereinafter described. .While the furnace pathsmay receive billets inany redeterrhined order, in the present em odiment billets'are fed to the four paths in rotation.

There is provided means for supplying billets to the delivery push rod and in structures embodying. the invention to the best advantage thissupply means is in the nature of a billet magazine capable of holding an excess supply. .7 K-

Althoug-lh capable of variousv construetions, in t at here illustrated as an example, extending at right angles to'groove 6 are aplurality of supplynnits, in this instance three (Fig. '1). Each unit comprises .an endless chain 3 having a number of spaced The push rod is withdrawnarms 5 and arranged to ts crosswise. The chains pass over suitable sprockets 4a and 4b, those at the forward end (Fig. 3) being keyed to a drive shaft 4. To give the supply means a step-by-step motion, as here shown, (Figs. 4 and 6) keyed to shaft 4 is a ratchet 8f, the teeth of which are engaged by a pawl-8e mounted on a toothed sector 80. This sector is pivoted on shaft 4 and meshes with a rack 8b formedas an extension of a piston rod 8a working in the cylinder of a fluid pressure umt 8.

billet-propelling receive the bile -Operation.of this unit causes the shaft4,

and consequently the supply chains, to be moved ahead one step.

In order that only one billet at a time will be supplied to delivery groove 6, the arms 5 on the several chains are staggered, with relation to each other. The chains being filled with billets in any suitable manner, as b an attendant, upon each forward step of siaft 4 one billet is brought into a position whereit may roll into delivery groove 6 (Fig. 3), the several chains supplying billets in rotation. The supply means described makes it possible for the attendant to load up billets for a considerable run without regard to the timing of the other parts. The chains are in the nature of a magazine and may be extended in length to give as large a waiting supply as may be desired.

In the present embodiment the hot billets are discharged from the furnace paths by the insertion of a cold billet. That is, every,

- time a cold billet is inserted, the leading billets at. the discharge end of the furnace.

As here shownv as an. example, at the dishot billet .of that path (assuming the path to be full) is discharged by the movement of the entire line of billets under the force of the infeed pusher. There is provided means for controlling the movement of the charge end, each trough 29 has an n ward 1nclme 29a; (Fig. 9) up which the illets ride. Extending across the discharge ends of the several paths, and located below the crests of these inclines, is a discharge groove .47 arranged to receive the billets-endwise.

Qooperating with each discharge incline is. a billet hold back-arranged to hold the billet at the crest of the incline, in order to 7 keep the line of billets intact, prevent discharge of more than one billet, and, upon withdrawal, to control the billet to some extent. in its movement: into the discharge oove. As here shown as an example, each billet holdback comprises a channel-like ele- I (Fig. 9).

ment reciprocating in guides 50a, 51

To 0 rate the billet hold-back, its rear end, w 'ch extends outside the furnace, is formedwith a rack 53 (Figs. 9, 11) meshing with a'pini'on 54 mounted on a shaft 55.

- leave the Also mounted on this shaft is a gear 56 (Fig. 10) meshing with vertical rack 57 Rack 57 is formed as part of a double ended piston rod 58 the pistons of which work in fluid pressure cylinders 59, 60. These units are like the units 25, 26 previously described, iixzept that both cylinders are valve-controle For the advance of an infeed pusher to insert a billet, the billet hold-back for that row is advanced by the downstrokeof piston rod 58. This positions the holder (Fig. 9) to engage theleading billet, now on the crest of the incline.

There-is provided means for causing the hold-back 50 to be withdrawn upon the arrival of a billetvin a predetermined position. This may be accomplished by a detector'a'ctuated -by the billet as it approaches contact with hold-back 50. Although capable of various constructions, in that here illustrated as an example, a billet detector comprises a billet'engaging head 48 on a rod 49 which passes rearwardly through hold-back 50, bemg slidable in ribs in the latter. The head of the hold-back is recessed or cut away (Fig. 7) to receive detector head 48 but normally thedetector head is held slightly advanced by a coiled spring 52 confined bee tween part of rod 49. and part of hold-back 50. When the hold-back is advanced as above described the detector moves forward with it, its head 48 being slightly in advance 29 by the insertion of the cold billet, it en-' gages detector head 48 and rod 49 isthrust backagainst its spring, head 48 being received by the recess in the end of hold-back 50 (Fig. 9). This movement of rod 49 op- 'erates a control mechanism, as later described, to cause reversal of piston rod 58 and consequent withdrawal of hold-back 50.

As later described, the infeed pusher-is withdrawn before the hold-back withdraws.

'As a result, pressure on the line of billets is removed while the hold-back .is still holding, the leading billet at the crest of the'incline. When, therefore, the hold-back is withdrawn, the leading billet is .freeto roll into discharge groove 47 but only that one billet will charge pusher is mounted on a rod 64 having a rack portion 65 (Fig. 8) meshin with a pinion 66 mounted on a shaft 6 Also -mounted on this' shaft is a ear 68 meshing with the teeth of a rack 69 ormed on a pisiath'. As soon as the hold-backv v ton rod 70. The piston of this rod works in the cylinder of a fluid pressure unit7-1.

After a billet has been moved into groove, 47, and under a control hereinafter de-' scribed, piston rod 70 iscaused to make its down stroke, thus advancing pusher 63 along groove 47 and through a tubular-extension 47a passing through the furnace wall. This stroke of'tlle pusher discharges the billet from the furnace.

In the present embodiment it is'desired to move the discharged-- billet along a path at right angles to'its path of discharge. and.

there is provided means for turning the dis,- charged billet through an angle of 90. Although capable of various constructions, 111

"that here shown as an example, adjacent the table 73' (Figs. 7, 8) formed to provide a discharge end of extension 47a is a turnseat for the. billet. 'lhe dischargestroke of pusher 63 deposits the billet onto this seat.

Extending downwardly from the turn-table 'is a shaft 75 journalled in a support 74 (Figs. 8, 14). Mounted on'this shaft is a pinion 76 meshing with a rack 77. This rack is formed on the piston rod 78 of a fluid pressure unit 79 (Fig. 12)'. Operation of this unit gives the turntable a quar tcr turn after, receiving a billet (Fig. 8) and later reverses it to billet-receiving position \(Fig. 7

The turntable has a side wall 73a which, when the turntable is in the position of Fig; 8. closes the end of extension 47a'to prevent loss of he'at.

The invent on in Its entirety includes means for automatically effecting the options. This may be accomplished,-generally eration of the various fluid pressure units whereby each succeeding machine operation is dependent for its initiation'upon the completion of a preceding operation or operaspeaking, by control'valves for the pressure units, which valves are, in turn, automatically controlled by electric circuits. While such 'valves and their controlling circuits .may vary in construction and arrangement, a suitable form of valve and a suitable elec tric control are disclosed in a copending application filed March 12, 1926, Serial No.

. 94,334,'now Patent No. 1,849,044. For concompres sed air. The valve eha'mberhas-two diameter,'-the smaller one being opened t'o vvenience, an example of one of these valve units is shown in F1g. 16. This valve comprises avalve chamber 411 having an inlet 412 connected with a pressure-hne, e.- g.

cylindrical extensions '413, 414 of different atmosphere and the larger one'close'd. In

these extensions work pistons 415, 416v carried'ona' piston rod 417 Mountedon this piston rod is aD-slide valve 418. Opening out of the valve chamber 411 is an exhaust passage 419' leading to atmosphereand a" passage 420a adapted for connection with I the variable pressurcend of an air-operated under chamber power cylinder. 1 Under what may be termed norn-ial conditions, the pressure in the" valve chamber holds the D-slide valve anoved to the-left, as viewed in Fig. 16. In

this position passage 420a, andso the controlled cylinder, is connected with exhaust so that the piston of the controlled cylinder xreverses under constant pressure at the otheu'end .oi the cyllnder.

valve is moved in the opposite directlon by The D-slide adlnitting air pressure, as by. a by-pass, through a passage 421, into closed extension 413. When this takes place the D-valve is moved to the right, due to the piston differential, and the valve connects passage 420a with valve chaniber pressure, whereby the pistonof the controlled cylinder is advanced against the inefl'ective constant pressure. Passage 420, shown in Fig. 16, for the arrangement just described is assumed to be plugged. Whenthe passage '421 is again closed, the D-valve moves back to the left plressurc; 1

As is more fl 1y described in the application referred to, the admission of air via .ens the solenoid-valve to admit air through passage 421 and the Dsslide valve takes the normal position of Fig. 16 on a dead solenoid. This means that thecontrolled power unit, is under variable pressure when the solenoid is energized and under return pressure when the solenoid is dead. If it is deable pressure when the solenoid is dead, passage 420 is substitutedand passage 420a is plugged.

. For some purposes it is desired to operate A closed cir-.

sired. to have the controlled unit under vari-,

the-power unitin both directions byvariable pressure. In that case, each end of the cylinder has one of these valve umts, one'en'd of the cylinder'being at exhaust while the other end is connected with the pressure line or passages 420, 420a may be connected to the respective ends of'the cylinder.

In the following description ofthe automatic'oper'ation, the several air power units are-referred to as being actuated by opening 'valve number soand-,so.fi It isto .be.under'- stood that the word valvein this connection is-intended to'cover the complete unit including the D-slide valve and its controlling solenoid-operated valve, or some equivalentconstruction. In the drawings the re- .erence numerals have been applied, for convenience, to the solenoid .of the valve unit. Unless otherwise specified, an energized circuit for the solenoid is referred to as opening the valve. This means that the D-valve isin such position as to connect ,the controlled end of the cylinder to main line pressure. Conversely, a closed valve, up-

on breaking of the circuit, means a D-valve in such position that the controlled end of 19 the cylinder is at exhaust.

The solenoid-operated valves-may be conveniently controlled by having the coils in D. 0. lines in which are contactors or relays having their coils in A. C. lines. These latter may be controlled by one or more switches operated by the movement of some part of the apparatus. Examples of such switches are shown and described in the parent application above referred to (-now Patent No. 1,768,866). As there described the several. switches may be operated by means of cam elements carried or moved by various parts of the apparatus or by. the parts themselves. By the formation and location of the cams, and the arrangement of the switches, the desired time, type and duration of switch contact may be obtained to effect the circuit conditions hereinafter described.

For the automaticcycle it is assumed that current source switch601 is closed to the right. 750 is moved to 'efiective left position by closing hand switch 912, its circuit extending from main line 7 49 through its left magnet, conductor 914, switch 912, to line 913,

I which is a branch of main line 944. 5 It may be moved right by closing hand switch 1105, the circuit extending from line 749, through its right magnet, conductor 1106, switch 1105 toline 913.

D. C. source controlling contactor 907 is moved to effective left position by closing hand switch 1107, the circuit extending from line 749, through its left magnet, conductor 1108, switch 1107 to line 913. It may be moved right by closing hand switch 1109, the circuit extending from line 749 through I its right magnet, conductor 11.10, switch 1109 to line 913.

Contactor 750 in its left hand position connects A. C. bus 943 with main line 944 and bus 751 with main line 749. Bus 943 connects with bus 942 and bus 936 connects with bus 751.

Contactor 907 in left hand position connects D. C. bus 993 with line 903 and bus 976 with line 977, lines 903, 977 being connected with the D. C. source through band switch 601 closed to the right.

' Contactor 684 is moved left b closing hand switch 1113, the circuit exten ing from line 749 through its left magnet, conductor 1114, switch 1113 to line 913. Itmay A. C. source controlling contactor be. moved right by closing hand switch 1111,

750, 907 and 684 are moved left and there remain throughout.

In order to set various contactors hereinafter referred to, setting contactor 604 is raised by closing hand switch 602, the circuit extending from bus 751, magnet 604,

conductor 606, switch 602, to line 913. This contactor 604 has a plurality of contacts connected respectively with the magnets of the several contactors in such a way as to cause these contactors to take their proper initial positions but for convenience only the connection to the right magnet of contactor 1052 is shown in Fig. 18.

It is assumed that the billet paths are all filled and that a billet is waiting in front of While the controller 923 may be of any desired construction which will make the contacts as shown, it conveniently comprises a shaft 924 magnetically driven in a stepby-step manner by means of magnet 922. Mounted on shaft 924 is a plurality of cam discs 925 adapted forclosing a number of contacts 926. The shaft may be arranged to take any desired number of steps. In

this case each step represents one-twelfth of a complete revolution of thesh'aft. There are, therefore, 12 steps representing 4 cycles, one for each of the fourfurnace lines, the controller moving through three steps for each cycle. i c

Controller contact- 994 is connected to D. C. bus 993 and controller contact 976 is connected to D. C. bus 976. Controller contact 943 connects with A. C. bus 943.

These contacts 994, 976 and 943" are effective in all positions of the controller. On the D. C. side, contact 1007 is effective in controller positions 1, 3, 4, 6,7, 9, 10, 12;

.contact 928 in positions 1, 4, 7, 10; contact 972 in positions 2, 5, 8,11; contact 993 in positions 1. 2, 12; contact 998 in positions 3, 4, 5; contact 1073 in positions 6, 7, 8;

tions 6, 7, 8; and contact 1087 in positions The controller is stepped ahead by closing a circuit extending from line 944 through the "upper contacts of contactor 911, controller magnet 922, to line 749. Thus, every ias ' m 911 causes the controller to move to posi- 1 effects the advance of billet holder 50 for time contactor 911 lifts, the controller is moved ahead one position.

' Closure of switch X causes contactor 911 to lift, its circuit extending from line 913 through switch X,- leftcontacts of contactor 684, left contacts of contractor 918, right. contacts of .contactor 915, conductors 915,

917, 916, magnet of contactor 9-11, conductor 923 to bus 751. This lift of contactor tion 1, as just described.

Movement of the controller into position the last furnace path. To this end, contactor 954 is raised by a circuit extending from conductor 7 51-, magnet of contactor 954, conductor. 940 to controller contact 941 in position 1. This energizes valve 927 controlling cylinder 60 of the last path by a circuit extending from contact 928 of the controller in position 1, conductors 929, 930, operating i 934, conductors 938, 939, 940 to the other side coil of valve 927, conductors 931, 932 to the other side of the line on controller contact 933. Valve 927 being opened, last holder 50 is advanced. Valve 971 for the holder reversing cylinder 59 being closed in this position of the controller.

This movement effects insertion of the waiting cold billet. To this end, upon the end of the stroke of holder 50, switch 934 is closed. This causes contactor935 to move from its normal right hand position to the left, its circuit being traced from one side of the line on conductor 7 51, conductor 936,

. left magnet of contactor 935, left contacts of contactor 918, normally in its left hand positlon, conductor 937, contact of switch of the line through contact 941 of the controller. Contactor 918 now moves to the right in a circuit traceable from one side of the line to conductors 751 and 936, right magnet of contactor 918, left contacts of contactor 935 to the other side of the line over conductors 942,943, contactor 750 to' conductor 944. Contactor 935 also completes a. circuit controlling valve 945 for c linder 39 of infeed pusher 42 of the last urnace path. This circuit extends from contact 928 onthe controller, conductors 929,930,

9 946, lower left contacts of contactor 935,

circuit extending from bus' 936, left magnet of contactor- 724 conductor 956, left contacts of contactor 935 to bus 942. The movement of contactor 918 to right breaks the circuit for contactor 911 which drops.

Infeed pusher 42, on this stroke, passes and closes switch 960, whereupon'contactor 961 moves to. the-left in a circuit extending from conductor 936, upper right contacts of contactor 915, conductor 962, left magnet-of contactor 961. conductor 963, contacts of switch 960, to the other side of the line over conductors 939, 940, to controller contact 941. Provision is made for'causing the infeed pusher tobe withdrawn while holder 50 is still advanced so that not more than one hot billet will be pushed into dischar e trough 47 by the feeding stroke of the pus er. To this end, valve 945 is de-energized prior to operation of c linders 59, 60.

As the leading hot billet is pushed by in sertion of the cold billet, against detector 48-the consequent back movement of rod 49 closes switch 958. The end of the feeding stroke of pusher 42 closes switch 965 for that path.

Closing of switch 958 causes contactor 966 to move to the left by a circuit extending from one side of the line on conductor 751, left magnet of contactor 966, left contacts of contactor 935, conductors 967, 968, switch 958, conductors 938, 939, 940, to the other side of the line on controller contact 941. Contactor 966, upon moving to the left causes contactor 915 to moveto the left by a circuit extending from conductor 7 51, left magnet of contactor 915, left contacts of contactor 966, conductor 969, switch 965, just closed, to theother side of the line on controller contact 941 over conductors 939, 940. Contactor 966 also causes contactor 935 to move to the right by a circuit extending from conductor 751 through the right magnet of contactor 935, conductor 970 and left contacts of contactor 966, to the other side of the line over conductors 942, 943, 944.

By this movement of contactor 935 the energizing circuit for valve 945 is broken and infeed pusher 42 is withdrawn under re,- turn pressure in cylinder 39.

Meantime, the closing of switch 958 has closed a. circuit for contactor 959 extending from conductor 751, through the magnet of contactor 959, conductor 968, switch 958, conductors 938,939, 940, to controller conta'ct 941. As presently described this movement of contactor 959 efi'ects withdrawalof holder 50. T0 delay such withdrawal until the infeed usher has been withdrawn, contactor 959 is given a delayed action. This maybe accomplished by a dash-pot or other braking device. As a result, contactor 966 moves left, as just described, before contactor 959 li The lift of contactor 959 causes contactor 911 to lift, its circuit extending from .bus

973, 974, operating coil of valve 971, conductors 975, to-bus 976. The closure of contactor 959 also moves contactor 915 to the right, the circuit extending from bus 751, through its magnet, the upper right contacts of contactor 959, to bus 942. Upon closing of valve 927 and opening of valve 971, rack 57 is moved upwardly to withdraw the hold- -er,vwhereby the leading hot billet is lowered into the discharge groove, as described. As the holder withdraws, switch 958 opens, breaking the circuit for contactor 959 which drops. This breaks the circuit for contactor 911, which drops.

Movement of the controller to position 2 also causes movement of the turntable '73-t0 billet-receiving position. .To this end a circuit is closed through the coil of valve 978 controlling cylinder 79. This circuit extends from contact 972 of the controller in position 2, through conductors 973, 974, 979, left contacts of contactor 724, conductor 980, conductor 1124, operating coil of valve 978, conductors 983, 984 to bus 976. Valve 978 being opened, pressure fluid is admitted to cylinder 79 to turn the turntable from the position of Fig. 8 to billet-receiving posi tion. During this movement, the turntable unit closes switch 985.

Operation of the turntable effects discharge of the billet from the furnace. At the end of its movement, it closes switch 992 closing a circuit from bus 976, through coil of valve 987, conductors 988, 989,'lower-contacts of contactor 990 (normally down) conductor 991, contacts of switch 992, to bus 993. This opens valve 987 and admits pressure fluid to cylinder 71. This, in turn, causes advance of the discharge pusher 63 to push the billet out of'the furnace onto the turntable. s

Movement of the discharge unitopens switch 950 and, when it has reached the end of its stroke, it closes switch 995. Thereupon contactor 990 is energized to open its. lower contacts' and to close its upper contacts in a circuit extending from bus 943, contacts of switch 995, conductor 996,- magnet of contactor 990 to bus 751. Contactor 990 makes a holding circuit for itself extending from its own upper contacts through conductor 1010, switch 985 to bus 943. The closure of the upper contacts of contactor 990 moves the controller into position 3 by lifting contactor 911 again, the circuit for;

the. latter being traceable from conductor 751, magnet 911, conductor 916, through the upper right contacts of contactor 990 to conductor 942. Upon the movement of the controller out of position 2 contactor 954 becomes de-energized and falls and, upon the movement of the controller to position 3 a circuit is completed for energizing contactor 1002 to lift and close its upper contacts. This circuit extends from conductor 751,

magnet of contactor 1002, conductor 1045,

1046, to controller contact 1047 in position 3.

The lift of contactor 1002 sets billet stop 35 for the thirdfurnace path by opening valve 997, admitting fluid to cylinder 38 of that path. The circuit for the operating coil of this valve extends from contact 998 of the controller in position 3, conductors 999, 1000, 1001, upper contacts of contactor 1002, conductors 1003, 1004, operating coil of valve 997 conductors 1005, 1006, to the othgr side of the line on controller contact 100 Contaetor 990, upon moving, breaks its lower contact, thereby breaking the circuit to the operating coil of valve 987, which causes this valve to close, whereupon the discharge pusher is withdrawn under constant pressure incylinder 71. This closing of the upper contacts of contactor 99.0 also. effects return of the turntable to the position of Fig. 8. To this end, contactor 724 moves to the right, its circuit extending from conductor 7 51, right magnet of contactor .724, conductor 1009, upper contacts of contactor 990, to conductors 942, 943.

Contactor 724, upon opening its left contacts, opens the circuit to the operating coil of turntable cylinder valve 978, which closes, whereupon the turntable is moved back under constant pressure in cylinder 79. During this movement it opens switch 992. Contactor 1008 is now moved to the left, its circuit extending from conductor 751, left magnet of contactor 1008, upper contacts of contactor 990 to conductors 942, 943.

The turntable reversing opens switch 985,

thus breaking the holding circuit for contactor 990 which drops. This breaks the circuit for contactor 911 which again drops.

The above described operations, while nee-- essarily described in succession, are more or less simultaneous. During this time, also the sired, for example, by transfer to a press as described inthe parent application.

The infeedpusher 42, upon its return movement, passes and closes switch 1018, whereupon contactor 1019 moves'to the left .-in an energizing circuit from bus 751, left magnet ofcontactor 1019, right contacts of contactor 1020, conductor 1021,- left contacts of-contactor' 1022 (which was moved to the discharged billet is being removed as dei left upon the closure of switch 1024 by the previous withdrawal of pusher 43 of the third path), conductor 1023', contacts of switch 1018, conductors 939, 940, to the other side of the line on controller contact 941.

This left movement of contactor 1019 opens valve 1027 of unit 8, the circuit extending from controller contact 994 through conductor 993, contacts of switch 1028, conductor-1029, left contacts oftcontactor 1019, right contacts of contactor 1020, conductors 1030, 1032, coil of valve 1027, conductor 984 to bus 976. Valve 1027 being thus opened closes switch 1025 and opens switch 1018,.

admits fluid pressure to cylinder 8. This operates piston rod 8 to advance the billet supply chain one step and deposit a cold billet ingroove 6.

,Infeed pusher '42 continuing, passes and the left, its circuit extending from conductor 936, through its left magnet, conductor 1034, contacts of switch 1033,; to the other side of the line on, conductors 1017 and 943. Contactor 1020, upon moving to the left, causes contactors101-9 and 966 to move to the right, the circuit for contactor 1019 extending from conductor 751, right magnet of contactor 1019, left contacts of contactor 1020, to conductors 942, 943 and that for contactor 966 extending from conductor 936,

through its right magnet, upper left contacts of contactor 1020 to conductors 942 and 943. Val've 1035 for cylinder 25 is -now opened, its circuit extending from controller con? tact 1007, conductors 1006, 1005, 1036, right contacts of contactor 935, conductor 1009, lower contacts of contactor 990, conductor 1038, right contacts of contactor 966, right contacts of contactor 918, right contacts of contactor-1019,conductors 1039, 1040, operating coil of valve 1035, to-conductors 984,

976. This admits fluid pressure to cylinder 25 and deliverypusher 9 moves. forward, opening switch 1028, and pushing the new billet along the groove 6 .until it IS stop ed by encountering stop 3.5 for the third urnace path.

The advance of the delivery pusher reverses the same by closing switch 1042 to cause contactor 918 to move leftby a circuit extending from bus 936 through the left magnet of the contactor, conductor 1043, switch 1042, conductors 1044', 1045, 1046, to controller contact 1047. This breaks the circuit for valve 1035 which closes, the delivery pusher reversing under return 'pressure.

Upon the opening of switch 1028 on the advance of the delivery pusher, valve 1027 closes, its circuit broken, and piston rod 8a of the supply unit reverses under return pressure. This movement closes switch 1048, whereupon contactor 1020 moves right,

its circuit extending from bus 936 through its right magnet, switch 1048, conductor 101 7 to'bus 943.

This completes what may be termed one billet cycle, which is a quarter of a furnace cycle. In'succeeding billet cycles the operations are repeated but for different paths Some of the steps and the controlling circycle. The same applies to the start of all subsequent cycles.

Unless otherwise s ecified the circuits in subsequent billet cycles are the same as in the first cycle. I

As previously described, each billet path has a holder-and-each advancing cylinder .has its magnetic valve.

Thus the three valves 1061, 1082,1098 correspond to valve 927 for the 4th path. In referring to these analogous parts the order given will be 3rd, 2nd and 1st path, which means second,.third and fourth cycle. As the controller takes positions 4, 7, and 10, corresponding to position 1, these valves'are opened to advance the holder in question. All these valves are connected in parallel on one side of the coil, the common circuit including conductors 930, 929 to controller contact 928. At the other side, valve 1061 connects through conductors 1000, 999 to controller contact 998; valve 1082 through conductors 1075, 1074 to, controller contact 1073; valve 1098,

through conductors 1095, 1096 to controller contact 1097.

Upon movement of the controller to posi- .tions 4, 7, and 10 contactors 1002, 1067 and .1090 lift. The circuit for 1002 has been described. That for 1067 extends from bus 751 through the contactor magnet, conductors 1068, 1070 to controller contact 1071 and that for 1090 from\'bus 751 through the contactor magnet, conductors 1085, 1086 to controller contact 1087.

The holders in advancing close switches 934", 934", 934, corresponding to switch 934. In each case, this resultsun the move ment of contactor 935 to the left. These 'troller contact 1071.

1,92o,1as

switches are connected in parallel on one side so that circuits for moving contactor 935 in the different cycles are the same from bus 751 to the switch in question. At the other side, the circuit for the second cycle is over conductors 1045, 1046, to controller contact 1047; for'the third cycle over conductors 1068, 1070 to controller contact 1071; for the fourth cycle, over conductors 1085, 1086, to controller contact 1087 In each cycle this movement of contactor 935 causes contactor 918 to move right, the circuit being the same in all cycles.

Upon each left movement of contactor 935 one of the valves for the infeed pushers is opened. Thesevalves are 1060, 1072 and 1091, corresponding to valve 945. The circuits are the same from controller contact 928 to one side of the several valve coils. At the other side, the circuit for valve 1060 includes conductor 1063, left contacts of contactor 1002, conductors 1001, 1000, 999, to controller contact 998; for valve 1072, conductors 1078, 1077, upper contacts of contactor 1067 conductors 1076, .1075, 1074, controller contact 1073; for valve 1091, conductors 1092, 1093, upper contacts of contactor 1090, conductors 1094, 1095, 1096 to-controller contact 1097.

In each cycle, the left movement of contactor 935 causes contactor 7 24 to move left, the circuits being the same, contactor 911 dropping in each case.

The'advance of the infeed pushers closes switches 1024, 1069 and 1084, corresponding to switch 960. In the second cycle, closing of switch 1024 causes controller-1022, cor-' responding to 961, to move left. The circuits extends from bus 936 through right contacts of contactor 915, conductor 962, the left magnet of the contactor, conductor 1064,

switch 1024, conductors 1045, 1046, to con-.

troller contact 1047. In the third cycle, closing of switch 1069 causes contactor 1051 to move left, the circuit extending from bus 936, through right contacts of contactor 915, conductor 962, left magnet of the contactor, switch 1069, conductors 1068, 1070 to con- In the fourth cycle, closing of switch 1084 causes contactor 1052 to move left, the circuit extending from bus 936, upper contacts of contactor 915, conductor 962,1eft magnet of the contactor, conductor 1083, switch 1084, conductors 1085, 1086 to controller contact 1087.

At the end of the stroke of the infeed pushers, switches 965a, 9657), and 9650, corresponding to switch 965, are closed. As the leading hot billets are pushed forward by the insertion of the cold billets, the corresponding detectors are actuated to close switches 958a, 9586, 9580.

In each case this causes left movement of contactor 966. The circuits are the same from bus 751 to the switch in question. At

the other side of switch 958a the circuit includes conductors 1045, 1046 to controller contact 1047 of switch 958b, conductors "1068, 1070, to controller contact 1071;-of

switch 9580, conductors 1085, 1086 to controller contact 1087.

The left movement of contactor 966 causes right movement of contactor 935, the circuit being the same in each cycle. It also causes left movement of contactor 915. The circuits are the same-as for the first cycle from bus 751 to conductor 969. -From there, in the second cycle, through switch 965a, conductors 1045, 1046, to controller contact 1047 in the third cycle, through switch 9656, conductors 1068, 107 0, to controller contact 1071; in the last cycle, switch 965e, conductors 1085, 1086, to controller contact 1087.

The right movements of contactor 935 break the circuits for valves 1060, 1072, 1091, which close, whereupon thevinfeed pushers reverse.

The closure of switches 958a, 9586 and 9580 causes contactor 959 to-lift. These switches being in parallel on one side, the circuits are same from bus 751 to the switch.

On the other side, in the second cycle thev causes the lift of contactor 911, the circuit in all cycles being the same. Thereupon the controller is moved to positions 5, 8, 11.

These movements of the controller break the circuits for valves1061, 1082, 1098 which close. They also close parallel circuits for valves 1062, 1083, 1099, corresponding to valve 971. Thereupon the holders are withdrawn to release the leading hot billets. Switches 958a, 958b, 9580, are opened, whereupon contactor 959 drops and contactor 911 drops.

In each cycle the lift of contactor 959 also causes contactor 915 to move right, the same circuit being utilized in each cycle.

Upon the movement of the controller into positions 5, 8 and 11 the following steps are repeated in each cycle with no difference in advance. the turntable, this movement closing switches 985, 992 valve 987 opens to advance the discharge pusher to push the hot billet onto the turntable; this opens switch 950and closes switch 995; thereupon contactor 990 lifts, and, as. a. result, contactor 911 lifts. Thereupon the controller is moved to positions 6, 9, 12and contactors 1002, 1067, 1090 drop.

These movements of the controller also cause the lift of contactors 1067, 1090, 954 by the circuits described.

In the second cycle, the drop of contactor circuits or otherwise; Valve 978 opens to 

